Point to any remote peak in the Highlands and SMPC member "Corran-Doggie" and her trusty co-pilot Dave Tomkins have probably flown from it, or been air-lifted off it. Let's see what an interview with the living legend can reveal.

Name: "Hairy" Dave Tomkins, and I'm the one on the left.

Age: I had a hard paper round, I really am only 53.

Marital Status: Single if I continue flying.

Where do you live now? Kingussie, Highlands, right in the heart of the Cairngorms and Monadhliaths: potentially the best flying region in Scotland.

So where do you fly then? Alturlie Point, Inverness, located a good drive from the Cairngorms and Monadhliaths.

Why do you love Alturlie so much? Well, I've always loved the mountains. At almost 52 feet above sea level, you can see quite a few of them from there.

How long have you been flying for? 11 minutes is my record. Oh, I see what you mean, um….. about 10 years. When I first started the wings performed like bricks. The wings have improved a lot since then, but I still fly like a brick.

What is your greatest achievement? There's been so many.  Winning a prize in the Scottish Open this year was one of the highlights.  The organisers commended me on my excellent 350 technique. 

Don't you mean 360? If it wasn't for that pesky mountain in the way damn it.

Why did you wait 10 years to sit your Pilot exam? You need at least 20 hours airtime. Also I figured I could learn a thing or two, even at my stage in life.

So what DID you learn then? I learned that "parasitic drag" is when I fly close behind someone, that "high pressure" is when I have to take off with someone watching and that an "Alturlie-meter" is actually pronounced "altimeter".

Who do you look up to in the sport? Almost everyone really.  The bastards are always above me.

Why is your ground handling technique so good compared to other people? They refuse to spend as much time on the ground as me.

Why do you fly a Pro-Design? I don't. It flys me. Also its an anogram of "dri-sponge",  which reflects the way I like to fly.

Why the bushy beard and dodgey tash? If I can't beat anyone on airtime, at least I can win on hairtime.

Are you sensitive about losing it on top? I am NOT losing it on top you idiot. I thought this was about paragliding.

OK then, what about your greatest experience of XC?   An excellent magazine don't you think?  The nice pictures especially. I had no idea it could be so beautiful up there.

Your dog and co-pilot "Corran" has an extremely hairy bottom, why is this? I'm not sure, but its possible we are related.

What are your favourite songs? "Just a-walking in the wind", "I believe I can fly",  "climb every mountain",  "walking back to happiness", "one day I'll fly away", "walk on by", and "please retrieve me".

Do you see the day when you will throw in the towel? Ah yes, I remember it well.

Thank you Hairy Dave.